Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-07-27

''Grandpal" Sylvia began, bending
over to comb his hair with her fingers.
His head rested-where old heads
had been piilowed hundred years
before-on the high bank of the old,
slender, green arm chair.
TWAS weather worn old head. The
storms had swept the thatch from it's
root, except two tangled wisps that
hung over the caves, one above each
ear. These-the bushy locks, OF
course, and not the ears-Sylvla was
indusi riously trying to curl.
They wouldn curl and Sylvia didn' t
care; but she did care very much, as
we shall see about something else.
She lived In Cornwall, among the
gray old Litchfield hills, that stood
and think still staud-in the north
westermost Granny of Connecticut.
The folk Of Cornwall are no better
than they ought to be, of course; but
where-except among the readers
own kith and kin-will you find stur-
der, kindlier hearts !? And who of
them harder, sweeter than Sylvia
What g. little pine knot she was
Tough as one, and, | am sure, could
flare up like one if she got afre.
Just now, however, her eyes were
brim full Of happy tears. Grandpa
usually kept her laughing, although
the men IN the woods thought him
rather sober.
"Well," ne asked, pinching her,
sand what does missy want out'n
Grandpa. now ?"
"Why, who said l wanted any
thing?" Sylvia replied, an eager quiv-
er in her voice. But | do. Mrs.
Cotter was a-talkin' TO. day."
'sMost ginerally kinder always is, !"
he interrupted.
"Was a-talkin'" continued Sylvia,
"'bout q family IN P keepsie that want
q cottage for the summer. Now
there's that hut up on Scatikoke,
very near where you're chopping
wo0d-'
Eth want TO fix that up for 'em 2"
grandpa exclaimed. "Ccol N airy
Ike a 30 malary, n as quiet as the
desert o. SALARY, III"
NO. grandpa" Sylvia slipped ner
arms around his neck and tied her fin
gers in a chubby knot under his chin.
No, want you TO rent our house to
them, and let us camp out in that
hut"
81 want = know!" Grandpa ex-
claimed, SO much astonished that he
nodded right of 20 sleep.
When &c awoke, the warm, soft knot
offngers was still under his chin, and
the warm pressure OF lips on his fore
head.
81 knew you would" said Sylvia.
''knew I would Bless me- Who
said / would 90 ne asked.
But it came TO pass. Grandpa told
her 20 ''get the notion out'n her
head" but notions when they got
into her head, seemed like mice caught
II g. trap, TO forget the way out.
The next Tuesday morning Mr..
Marsh drove up, with Jennie and
Whi6efoot hitched to the big wagon,
aud into it went boxes and bundles.
and chairs, and grandpa, and Towser,
the dog, and Sylvia, and Mouser, the
kitten, and on to the mountain they
went tor the summer.
They were poor and lived alone; she
was housekeeper and maid-of-all-
WORK, sometimes making baskets to
sell He, an oaken-limbed man Of
nearly so. earned their living by chop
ping wood for charcoal.
What ride that was! The boughs
that bent TO touch them, and all the
waving trees on the mountain,
seemed TO give them welcome. The
laet late leaves mad broken out, and
lay, paIer threads, on the rich wool
o. foliage, rent here and there far up
by the Jagged crags, to whose dizzy
edges shreds Of clouds still chung.
Through other riffs in the leafy wool
were seen piles OF pink-white laurel
blossoms, drifted among the rocks.
Squirrels chartered, birds-now dip
ping restiest wings in shimmering sun
light, now diving N the cold depths OF
the foIIage-chirped and trllled: other
mysterious wood voices came cheerily
from under the shady bows, and the
very horses snorted as if in good
humor.
as for Sylvia, her heart ran over
again and again n Joyous tears that
the wind tried to dry with her loose
tresses.
Al last they came to the old collier
hut, standing on "pit"-a wide,
round shelf on the mountain side
where charcoal had once been burned.
When Mr.. Marsh had driven off,
Sylvia and her grandfather hustled
about like two squirrels fitting up
their home.
Grandpa had re-roofed the hut with
fragrant hemlock bows and earth.
He now fashioned two rude beds out
Of poles stuck in crotches, and re-
placed the fireplace, hanging an old
crane over It.
Sylvia made the beds, swept and
brushed and tidied ali day. A cur
tam was hung in the corner for g.
wardrobe. a box turned on its side,
served when grandpa put g. shelf in it
-for a pantry and table.
When grandpa came in from chop
ping their frewood, he found their
table spread with a coarse cloth, the
butter dripping over the nicely
Drowned edges OF pile of toast, be-
side it plate of fakes of cold lamb,
while the teapot sent out its sweet
Aha 49,